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Rob Ford: What he said at city hall today

Toronto's mayor scrummed with reporters before a weekend of sporting events.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is pursued by reporters last month at city hall. (CHRIS YOUNG / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Fri., April 4, 2014

Mayor Rob Ford helped kick off Toronto’s annual spring cleanup campaign Friday at city hall and afterward made himself available briefly to take questions from the media.

He started off by announcing he would be attending both Blue Jays and Maple Leafs games this weekend and then responded to questions posed by reporters.

“Go Jays. I’ll see you there tonight. We’ll beat the Yankees probably 6-4. They can beat the Yankees no problem. They might squeak in as a wild card. Leafs won last night, so we’re good. I think the Leafs might squeak in too. I’m going to go see the Leafs and Winnipeg tomorrow so it’s going to be a lot of sports,” Ford said.

“Baseball tonight, a little hockey tomorrow night, a little bit of football on Sunday night with my buddy Orlando. And a lot of campaigning.”

Reporter: “Mayor Ford you said you felt exonerated yesterday. Looking at the events of yesterday, what is your mindset today?

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Ford: “I don’t really want to get into what I said months ago. There’s nothing there. If there’s something there, arrest me. There’s nothing there. So you know what, I just again go back, it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. I want to move on and save taxpayers money like I’ve done for 14 years. Keep moving this city forward like I’ve been doing the last four years. And I will continue to do it after Oct. 27 for another four years.”

Reporter: “So you didn’t ask anyone to get the video?”

Ford: “Guys, I’m not getting into all this stuff.”

Reporter: “There was an attack ad that nobody’s claimed responsibility for yet against John Tory. Is that in your plan at all to release a campaign attack ad against one of the candidates?”

Ford: “It’s not attacking, it’s just debating. They’re going to take shots at me. I have to defend myself, obviously right? I’m not going to attack them, I call it debating. You look at all of them…I’m not aware of this commercial you’re talking about. I don’t believe in it. I don’t believe in really negative advertising. I’ve got to stick up for myself. I’m not going to sit there and just let them make up stories and pound on me. I’ve got a great track record. I’m going to stick to that record. I’ve saved the taxpayers a billion dollars. And I’m going to tell people exactly what I’ve done and what I’m going to continue to do.”

“We’re going to contract out garbage. We’re going to keep the Gardiner. We’re going to expand the island airport. I’ve got a platform moving forward and I’ve got a track record that people are going to hear about. If they want to get nasty, they haven’t been very successful at their job. So I’m going to let the people know what their track record is.”

Reporter: “How many bobbleheads are we going to see?”

Ford: “You guys have to come and see. I can’t wait for the 17th. (campaign launch) We’re going to have a lot of people. You’ve got to come on the 17th and see. We’re going to have a good time on Thursday, and I encourage people to come to the Congress Centre on April 17th, 650 Dixon Rd.”

Reporter: “Mayor Ford, are you worried about what might happen to your friend Sandro Lisi? You’ve called him a friend, he’s facing charges.”

Ford: “I’m not getting into that. Anything else?”

Reporter: “What do you think of Karen Stintz’s plan for a transportation czar?”

Ford: “I’m not getting into that. That’s during the debate. Support the Blue Jays tonight and the Leafs tomorrow night.”

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